Former state politician John D'Orazio dies

Tributes have been pouring in for the former state Labor MP, turned Independent, John D'Orazio who has died at the age of 55.

He died in hospital while undergoing an operation for a rare blood condition.

Mr D'Orazio's wife Ailsa says he went into hospital on Monday for what was described as a routine operation.

"His heart failed apparently," she said.

"We're quite shocked, I think that is all I can say."

Mr D'Orazio was the former mayor of Bayswater before entering parliament in 2001.

He was forced to resign as Police Minister for failing to pay speeding fines and driving without a licence in 2006.

State Labor MP and close friend Michelle Roberts described Mr D'Orazio as a generous man who served the community.

"John was a very generous, caring, compassionate man and we'll certainly miss him very much."

She says an investigation by the Corruption and Crime Commission into Mr D'Orazio's links to a corrupt Bayswater panel beater came to nothing.

"Those inquiries ended up coming to nothing, I think those incidents were very unfortunate," she said.

"I think the true reflection of John is the more than 25 years that he gave to community and public life, I think he was a very decent and honourable person."

The Premier Colin Barnett was among those to pay tribute.

"His term in parliament had its ups and downs but he was generally a popular member across both sides of the chamber so he'll be missed," he said.

Colourful

Mr D'Orazio was a colourful politician who, although forced to resign from Labor, was later allowed back into the party.

He eventually became an independent after a series of events.

These included the CCC investigation into his links to panel beater Pasquale Minniti who was later jailed on corruption charges.

CCC hearings over Labor party links to former premier turned lobbyist, Brian Burke, also brought about the premature end to the ministerial careers of Mr D'Orazio along with those of John Bowler, Tony McRae and Norm Marlborough.

The hearings also took the gloss off Alan Carpenter's Labor government, contributing to its electoral demise in a snap poll in mid 2008.

Mr D'Orazio is survived by his wife and two children.

The family says details about funeral arrangements will be made public later this week.